BOSTON – State Senator Ryan Fattman (R-Sutton) announced that he was able to secure $995,000 in aid for his district through a major spending bill that was recently signed into law by Governor Baker. In March of 2021, the United States Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) that sent billions of dollars in aid to states across the country. The Massachusetts Legislature was able to invest $4 billion, comprising of dollars from ARPA as well as money appropriated from the Transitional Escrow Fund, which is made up of state fiscal year 2021 surplus funds. This went to support economic recovery that had been caused by COVID-19. Investments were made in healthcare, housing, workforce development, the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund, economic development, infrastructure investment, and education. 

  In this spending package, Senator Fattman was able to secure funding for capital expenditure projects for local priorities in his district municipalities. In the bill, he secured: $30,000 for the Webster Fire Department to purchase new hydraulic rescue tools; $75,000 for the Sutton Fire Department to purchase new generators; $75,000 for the town of Millville to make public safety improvements to its highway department shed; $75,000 for the town of Sturbridge to purchase new public safety equipment; $150,000 for the town of Sutton for the repointing of Manchaug Pond dam and for the improvements to the Stevens Pond dam; $200,000 to the Webster Lake Association, Inc. for the revitalization of Pout Pond; $100,000 to Waters Farm in the town of Sutton for public access and infrastructure improvements; $50,000 to the Douglas Orchard and Farm for sustainable farming infrastructure in the town of Douglas; $40,000 to the historic E.N. Jenckes Store for improvements in the town of Douglas; and $200,000 to the town of Sutton for extending fiber optic cable to the Wilkes section of town. 

“The relief provided in the bill, as well as the relief I was able to secure for my district will play a critical role in the ongoing recovery efforts in the Commonwealth,” said Senator Fattman. “These funds secured for my district will provide long-lasting equipment upgrades and infrastructure improvements that we will see the effects of for many years to come. I’m grateful we were able to make this commitment to our municipalities and organizations after the hardships they have experienced over the last year and a half.” 

“This ARPA money provided a unique opportunity to provide direct assistance to many organizations and service departments throughout the district that have significant outstanding infrastructure and equipment needs. We are thrilled to be able to commit resources to assist our fire and emergency services while also preserving some vital local cultural resources,” said State Representative Joseph McKenna (R-Webster).